Living
Local youth honored at annual award ceremony
Sunday, 29 April 2012 by Diana Moore
Rep. John Carter (R-Round Rock), center, was on hand to help celebrate the 10 local youths selected as the 2011 Absolutely Incredible Kids last Thursday at the Bell County Expo Center.It was an exciting day at the 13th Annual Camp Fire USA's Absolutely Incredible Kid Day, last Thursday, at the Bell County Expo Center, where 10 absolutely incredible kids from Bell, Coryell and Falls Counties were honored, and local citizens, businesses and organizations were recognized for their support of youth, including Belton's own, Bodega Bean and Belton Christian Youth Center.
Also, from Belton ISD, the Leon Heights Honor Choir provided the entertainment. Myra Arthur and Doug Currin of KCEN HD News hosted the event.
Miss Katie Miller Presented the Colors and Invocation, and Lesli Cearly, Chair of the AIKC Advisory Board introduced the Keynote Speaker, Dr. Charles E. Patterson, Retired Killeen ISD Superintendent.
The 10 youth receiving this award included: Stephen Ash, Home School-Belton; Katie Hudson, Grade 11 at Rogers High School; Julia Mueller, Grade 12 at Belton High School; Kellie Stanley, Grade 12 at Shoemaker High School in Killeen; Abigail Te Poel, Grade 11-Home School Belton; Brandon Thomas, Grade 12 at Shoemaker High School; Jett Truss, Grade 6 at Gatesville Intermediate School; Oscar Romo, Grade 12 at Temple High School; Samantha Waggoner, Grade 10 at Belton High School; and Hadden Whitaker, Grade 3 at Tyler Elementary in Belton. Other honorees include: Mr. Ken Gray received the "On Behalf Of Youth Award;" General Robert M. Shoemaker was given the "Lifetime Achievement Award;" and Belton Christian Youth Center, Cen Tex Chargers Homeschool Sports Association and Wilsonart International were all given the "Special Achievement for Youth Award."
Hadden Whitaker, a 3rd Grader at Tyler Elementary, was by far the highlight of the event.
He is a bright boy with a wonderful sense of humor, and though he spends his life in a wheelchair, he holds a very positive outlook on life and people in general. According to Doug Currin of KCEN TV, "Hadden is a comedian."
The City of Belton should be proud of its citizens and award recipients in this year's Absolutely Incredible Kids Celebration.
